I’ve found two short quotes that speak volumes about the Christmas season. Thought I would share.
How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, His precepts!
― Benjamin Franklin
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!
― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Every year our city has a Parade of Lights during the holiday season. It was 30 degrees here in Denver, but the turnout was incredible! Despite my hands shaking from the cold, here are some of the highlights:
The color guard starting off the parade.
North Elementary School, one of the category winners.
Of course, you have to have the police car complete with sirens for the kids. 
Followed by the fire engine, again with sirens, much to the kids’ delight.
Dancers from the city’s dance studio.
The Brighton City Council float. My husband, one of the council members, was walking and handing out candy canes. 
Remax Realty, another category winner.
And, of course, every Coloradans favorite, the Denver Bronco bus. 
The parade, with vendors selling all kinds of things that light up, as well as hot dogs, funnel cakes, hot chocolate, and music, is the perfect addition to the holidays!
For years I have searched high and low for the perfect planner, as well as the perfect handbag. I’ve found the planner, the handbag I’m still on the hunt for. As you can probably tell, I’m huge into organization and these two tools are all about making my life so much easier and, well, organized. Sometimes I’ve gone through several planners in a year, unable to find that perfect fit. This one I’ve invested some time in, making sure it’s what I’m looking for. It is, and so much more than I’d hoped for!
What is it?
The Passion Planner!
One of my writer friends introduced me to it. And let me tell you, this is a writer’s dream for planning, organizing, and even writing. 
There are pages to jot down immediate, short-term, and long-term goals and space to explore and expand upon game-changers to make your year the best it can be. At the end of each month are pages to reflect upon the month, in journal format, what you’ve accomplished and several questions to help you make the best of the new month, like:
There are questions that make you think about what you want to accomplish, such as:
There is space to create your passion roadmap, your passion plan, and tips on how to best make it a success. Each weekly layout contains:
There are motivational quotes throughout. And there are plenty of blank pages in the back for notes, story-ideas, plot planning, or to write whatever your heart desires.
So I can be reminded of the important things daily, the inside cover of mine includes two special reminders, “Right Here. Right Now,” and “Be Someone You Look Up To.” It also includes my Life Verse (Philippians 4:6-8), and My One Word for 2019 (to be revealed later).
Thrilled with my discovery? I couldn’t be more so! I’ve always enjoyed spending time in December to plan the following year. It gives me time to really think things through instead of making rash, off-the-cuff goals that I can’t (and don’t) follow through with. This planner has just made my planning so much easier and more fun!
Do you spend time planning the upcoming year? What is your best/favorite planning tool?
A goal without a plan is just a wish.
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
― Benjamin Franklin
For every person who loves Black Friday, there’s another that dislikes it equally as much. I’m of the latter camp. Shopping and everything that relates to “stuff” is my least favorite part of the Christmas season. I’ll take the lights, the music, the uncomplicated joy of the season well before Thanksgiving–much to my husband’s dismay–but shopping? If I could completely forego it, I would.
REI, one of my favorite stores to browse (it’s the halfway mark of a 30-mile bike ride my husband and I enjoy in permitting weather) closes all of its retail stores on Black Friday so their employees can have the day off to enjoy the outdoors, sharing experiences. Their initiative started the #OptOutside campaign and encouraged others to do the same.
I love this idea!
REI Chief Customer Officer Ben Steele said, “When we started this four years ago, it was that consumerism was spinning out of control, in a frenzy of consumption–I’ve got to have it, I need it, I’ll leave Thanksgiving dinner early to go get it.”
That’s a powerful statement. We spend Thanksgiving grateful for what we have and then get up early the following morning to go buy more.
“Black Friday: Because only in America people trample each other for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have.” Author Unknown
Many stores have even intruded into Thanksgiving evening to get the shopping started, using messages with a sense of urgency to get people in:
I’m not saying Black Friday is all bad. For some people, the sales are what allows them to purchase gifts for Christmas presents. And some people genuinely enjoy the shopping experience with family and friends. Though I have to admit I’m not one of those people. But what saddens me the most is when people go into debt buying “stuff” they don’t need or even want, simply because it’s on sale. When we buy what’s on sale because it’s “on sale,” we’re not saving money, we’re spending it. Too many times Black Friday leads to Red Saturday with people going into debt.
That being said, the Black Friday scrooge that I may be, sincerely wish everyone a Christmas season filled with family and friends, good health, peace, and experiences that bring you joy.
Last weekend I participated in the Harvest Craft Fair in my hometown. I look forward to it months in advance and am usually a bit bummed when it’s over. Anticipation hangover. The craft fair signals the start of the holiday season with lights, music, and community. My favorite parts of the holidays.
Each year I have one or two new books to add to my table. If I stay the course I’ll need to add another table. 🙂 The turnout, both vendors and shoppers/browsers, was the largest yet.
The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us.
~ Terri Marshall
The rest of my week, and the weeks to come, are more centered around these books:
For most people, it would be frightening to see these books on someone’s shelves. For mystery writers they couldn’t be more normal. And helpful!
And with that, short and sweet as it was, I’m headed back over to Birch Haven, Minnesota, the home of Melanie Hogan, to finish up NaNoWriMo strong.
Until next week…
I’ve been spending November in Birch Haven, MN. And it’s in the dead of winter there. Never heard of Birch Haven? There’s a very good reason for that.
It’s fictional.
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), where literally millions of people commit to writing 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days. I’m happy to say I’m on track with writing book five in the Melanie Hogan Mysteries, Shear Fear. In fact, I’m a wee bit ahead so I’ve got some breathing room. Whew!
One of the best parts of writing a novel? You get to create any setting you want and spend all the time you want there. It’s truly magical. You get to create characters you like, people you don’t mind spending all of your free time with, protagonist, antagonist, and supporting cast, and they become your friends. That probably sounds a bit crazy to non-writers, but to all of you writers out there, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
And with that, short and sweet as it was, I have to hurry back to Birch Haven before the portal closes to see what Melanie and her friends will get into next.
See you next week, with thousands more words under my belt.
No post this Wednesday due to keeping an eye on the election results and keeping extremely busy with NaNoWriMo. Back next week. Until then…Happy writing to all of the NaNo participants out there. Write on!
